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E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Fri Sep 05, 2014 10:41 pm by Debbie
Derek suggested:
I propose we here at Solunars.net draft an email to be sent to Congressmen, Senators and Governors whose birth-times are not already known and send it to their offices.
Dear Congressman Dolittle,
In wake of controversies over eligibity for office I respectfully request that you provide this writer the date, place and time of your birth for verification.
Thank you for your service.
Sincerely,
Derek Fedup
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Fri Sep 05, 2014 10:52 pm by Jim Eshelman
Nothing like antagonizing them and getting a form letter
How about:
The Honorable @Name
Address
Dear Sen/Rep @Name,
Could you please provide me with the day, month, year, TIME, and place of your birth, preferably from a birth certificate?
The American astrological community is watching your current re-election campaign, and would like accurate information for their study and commentary. I will ensure that the information you share is posted to Astro.com's widely accessed database.
I greatly appreciate your quick response, and wish you the best in your endeavors.
Thank you.
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Sat Sep 06, 2014 12:41 am by DDonovanKinsolving
I did think about saying something like "businesslike and respectful" but thought it went without saying. Thank you Mr. E. I'm compiling info on the Governors now. It looks like they're the ones to get the form letters from us.
-Derek
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Sat Sep 06, 2014 12:23 pm by Jupiter Sets At Dawn
Jim said
I will ensure that the information you share is posted to Astro.com's widely accessed database.
I would say something more like "I will add information you share to your current biography on AstroDataBank."
"Posted to" is a loaded phrase, (Anthony Wiener) and "AstroDataBank" is more well known than astro.com. Implying they already have a biography there and you know how to edit information they may want edited may get you a second look.
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Sun Sep 07, 2014 1:02 am by Debbie
I guess I don't have Saturn conjunct my funny bone. Just trying to get things started.
Maybe a different e-mail for Dems and Reps might do the trick. I doubt the Reps will really care what the astro community wants since they don't even believe in climate change.
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Sun Sep 07, 2014 3:49 am by DDonovanKinsolving
Humor noted, Debbie. It's just that it hits too close to my feelings toward some of them that I have to make a deliberate attempt to set them aside for the success of the project, in the interests of astrology.
I believe in climate change. Climate's been changing since the end of the Ice Age, getting gradually warmer and drier in this inter-glacial period. I think you must mean "anthropogenic climate change." That's a whole other, non-astrological topic, but it may have some bearing on Bradley's weather studies. After all, how can you tell if you're successfully changing the weather unless you have a baseline pattern for comparison? When you have a baseline, you know when to reinforce a pattern and when it's problematic to fight against it. The ongoing project of weather and climate control is 'way outside this discussion, however. (But I think that's not the sort of human-caused global warming, er, climate change, you meant.)
I believe Bradley had the purest of intentions, but that his information went into the mix for those who intend to weaponize, literally, EVERYTHING. This is an astrology BB, and not the place for this, so I don't intend to discuss it further. Please forgive me for straying outside the bounds this much, Mr. E.
-Derek
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:17 pm by DDonovanKinsolving
Thanks Mr. E and Jupiter for your input. Here is my suggestion:
"The Honorable @Name
Address
Dear Sen/Rep @Name,
Could you please provide me with the day, month, year, TIME, and place of your birth, preferably from a birth certificate?
The American astrological community needs an update to the political scene, and would like accurate information for study and commentary. I will submit information you share to your current biography on AstroDataBank, Astro.com's widely accessed public database.
I greatly appreciate your quick response, and wish you the best in your endeavors.
Thank you."
Not all intended recipients are running for re-election. Wikipedia has pages listing all currently serving Governors, Senators and Representatives. These lists link to their individual page, which in turn has an external link to the official web page, which provides an email form. I expect the topic will be "Other."
Current status: Am creating a database using Open Office Base. Have completed basic entries for Governors and Senators; am adding Representatives. Expect to start sending inquiries pending further input on the letter. When it seems general approval has been made, I'll proceed with the emails.
-Derek
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:19 pm by Jim Eshelman
Looks good to me. Other input, folks?
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Mon Sep 08, 2014 9:13 pm by SteveS
Yep, looks good.
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Tue Sep 09, 2014 7:53 am by DDonovanKinsolving
I'll give another day or two for people to think it over. Then I'll start contacting the Governors, Senators and Representatives Wednesday or Thursday, Sept. 10 or 11, with the text as I've last given it.
-Derek
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Tue Sep 09, 2014 1:50 pm by Jupiter Sets At Dawn
The Honorable @Name
Address
The Honorable @Name
Address
Dear Sen/Rep/Gov @Name,
Please provide the day, month, year, TIME, AM or PM and place of your birth, preferably from a birth certificate.
Accurate information is important to both print and online articles and discussions. Information you share will also be submitted to your current biography on AstroDataBank, Astro.com's widely used database.
Your response is greatly appreciated, and I wish you the best in your endeavors.
Thank you."
(Still feels a bit awkward. Leaves out things like "provide me" and "needs an update" and "quick response" which might raise hackles. Remember the person who sees this will be a low-level staffer or secretary, and they are far more defensive of their bosses than their bosses are of themselves.
You mention the Wikipedia page, you'll want to look at their Astrodatabank page as well. No point wasting time asking for information already available.
We have Mrs. Clinton's birth data including time, but not AM or PM. o-O
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Wed Sep 10, 2014 11:09 am by DDonovanKinsolving
Jupiter Sets At Dawn wrote:
You mention the Wikipedia page, you'll want to look at their Astrodatabank page as well. No point wasting time asking for information already available.
Case in point: Gov. Jerry Brown's time of birth has long been known.
Originally, I thought that checking AstroDataBank would be easier only after all the names have been entered and sorted. Person not found or time not known would prompt an email. Now I'm learning that the Representatives' websites have a built-in restriction on accepting only emails from people within their district.
There may be a legitimate way around this, but I'm thinking that it would require astrologers nation-wide to pitch in, and get their friends in other districts to do the same. Nevertheless, I have the names, birthdays and birth-places of all currently sitting Governors, Senators and Representatives in one database. (Some districts have vacancies for various reasons.)Now for the ADB check ...
-Derek
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Wed Sep 10, 2014 3:33 pm by DDonovanKinsolving
Some statistics, if anyone is interested.
50 Governors, 100 Senators, 432 Congressmen. Of these, we have the birth-times of 5 Governors and 9 apiece for Senators and Congressmen.
I'll review the suggestions for the form email after some sleep.
-Derek
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:00 pm by Jupiter Sets At Dawn
DDonovanKinsolving wrote:
Now I'm learning that the Representatives' websites have a built-in restriction on accepting only emails from people within their district.
There may be a legitimate way around this, but I'm thinking that it would require astrologers nation-wide to pitch in, and get their friends in other districts to do the same. They all must have some way for the media to contact them. You are planning on reporting back to us. I hereby nominate you as an official reporter for Solunars, and by extension, the Sidereal Community.
Anybody care to second the nomination?
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
Post Posted Wed Sep 10, 2014 9:29 pm by DDonovanKinsolving
Jupiter Sets At Dawn wrote:
They all must have some way for the media to contact them.
Congressmen all seem to have local offices in their district, which may be more appropriate for this sort of question (their DC offices sound like all business for legislating and lobbying). They all have fax and telephone numbers, but no separate emails. That may be the way to go.
Tell you what. I'll start with my own Congressman, and maybe the staff can help me with the protocols.
Jupiter Sets At Dawn wrote:
I hereby nominate you as an official reporter for Solunars, and by extension, the Sidereal Community.
Do I get an Official Press Pass?
-Derek
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
New post Posted Wed Sep 10, 2014 10:59 pm by Jupiter Sets At Dawn
If you can get it laminated.
I agree, local offices will be the likely place to start. If they don't have email open to the public, they should at least have a contact form.
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
New post Posted Wed Sep 10, 2014 11:10 pm by Jim Eshelman
This may help - it's a longer way around, but it still may help.
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
New post Posted Wed Sep 10, 2014 11:18 pm by Jim Eshelman
Ah, here you go: opencongress.org has assigned their own email addresses to all members of congress, and apparently are redirecting to the real one.
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
New post Posted Wed Sep 17, 2014 5:36 am by DDonovanKinsolving
Here is the text I'm prepared to go with. Last chance for final tweaks.
"The Honorable @Name
Dear Gov/Sen/Rep @Name,
Could you please provide me with the day, month, year, TIME (most important!), and place of your birth, preferably from a birth certificate? If the time of birth is unknown, it is also useful to know that.
The American astrological community needs an update to the political scene, and would like accurate information for their study and commentary. I will submit information you share to your current biography on AstroDataBank, Astro.com's widely accessed public database.
I greatly appreciate your quick response, and wish you the best in your endeavors.
Thank you. "
I'll send this out through an email account for just this purpose.
I'm still a bit flummoxed about getting to the Congressmen. My cable service doesn't accommodate faxing. Their technical rep recommended the Post Office or the local library (with some small charge), which I need to investigate further. While I'm collecting District fax numbers, I'm just about ready to email to the Governors and Senators.
-Derek
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
New post Posted Wed Sep 17, 2014 7:29 am by Jim Eshelman
The opencongress.org option didn't solve the problem?
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Re: E-mail for birth data suggestion
New post Posted Wed Sep 17, 2014 7:53 am by DDonovanKinsolving
Nah. They just help route emails. The basic problem is that the DC offices only respond to emails (and in some cases only take emails) from people in the Rep.'s district. They seem very focused on legislation there. I think it's more polite to go through the local offices. Senators seem to take a wider, more national approach and take communications from everyone.
When I visited my own Congressman's office, I didn't get much in the way of help.
I can try the DC emails, sure. What's the worst that can happen? They can get rejected by the filters or ignored by the staff, at no extra expense. Just maybe, I'll get a few birth times!
-Derek